News For Employees

Issue of First Class ‘A’ Special Duty Cheque Pass to Railway Servants called for special felicitation/reward/award

Government of India, Ministry Of Railways,(Railway Board) issued circular vide No.E(W)2018/PS5-117 New Delhi, dated 5.11.2018 regarding Issue of First Class ‘A’ Special Duty Cheque Pass to Railway Servants called for special felicitation/reward/award and details as follows.

1.The matter of felicitating Railway Servants for their rare and exemplary specific works such as preventing an accident, display of extreme honesty, etc (other than routine works) has been under consideration of the Board. In recognition of their contribution and to encourage other railway servants to emulate, it has been decided by the Competent Authority that whenever a railway servant is called for special felicitation/reward/award specifically by Railway Board Members and above for exemplary acts of devotion to work, display of favour, conduct, etc (other than routine work), a First Class ‘A’ “Special Duty Cheque Pass” in favour of Railway Servant along with spouse valid for travel in 1-AC Class of all trains may be issued from the place of posting to the place of special felicitation/reward/award & back, irrespective of the railway servant’s duty pass entitlement.

Accordingly, the Pass Issuing Authority of the railway servant is directed to issue First Class `A”`Special Duty Cheque Pass” in favour of Railway Servant along with spouse with the endorsement for travel in 1-AC Class of all trains including Rajdhani/ Shatabdi/ Duronto Express trains. Such Pass shall be valid for 15 days from the date of issue.

This issues with the concurrence of the Finance Directorate of Ministry of Railways.

List of Holidays to the Department of Posts for the year 2019 – Holidays to be observed in Department of Posts for the year -2019

Government of India, Ministry of Communication & IT, Department of Posts, Establishment Division issued circular vide No. 21-1/2018-PE-II dated : 01-11- 2018 regarding Holidays to be observed in Department of Posts for the year -2019 and details as follows.

LIST OF HOLIDAYS DURING THE YEAR 2019 FOR ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICES OF CENTRAL GOVERNMENT LOCATED AT DELHI / NEW DELHI

S.NO.

HOLIDAY

DATE

SAKA DATE

DAY

1940 SAKA ERA

1

Republic Day

Jan-26

Magha 06

Saturday

2

Maha Shivaratri

Mar-04

Phalguna 13

Monday

3

Holi

Mar-21

Phalguna 30

Thursday

1941 SAKA ERA

4

Mahavir Jayanti

Apr-17

Chaitra 27

Wednesday

5

Good Friday

Apr-19

Chaitra 29

Friday

6

Buddha Purnima

May-18

Vaisakha 28

Saturday

7

Id-ul-Fitr

Jun-05

Jyaishtha 15

Wednesday

8

Id-Uz-Zuha (Bakrid)

Aug-12

Sravana 21

Monday

9

Independence Day

Aug-15

Sravana 24

Thursday

10

Janmashtami

Aug-24

Bhadra 02

Saturday

11

Muharrarn

Sep-10

Bhadra 19

Tuesday

12

Mahatma Gandhi’s Birthday

Oct-02

Asvina 10

Wednesday

13

Dussehra

Oct-08

Asvina 16

Tuesday

14

Diwali(Deepavali)

Oct-27

Kartika 05

Sunday

15

Milad-un-Nabi or Id-e-

Nov-10

Kartika 19

Sunday

Milad (Birthday of Prophet

Mohammad)

16

Guru Nanak’s Birthday

Nov-12

Kartika 21

Tuesday

17

Christmas Day

Dec-25

Pausha 04

Wednesday

ANNEXURE-II LIST OF RESTRICTED HOLIDAYS DURING THE YEAR 2019 FOR ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICES OF CENTRAL GOVERNMENT LOCATED AT DELHI I NEW DELHI

Tamilnadu List of Holidays for 2019 – Public Holidays 2019 under Negotiable Instruments Act ,1881 for Tamilnadu Government

Tamilnadu Government Released GO.No.840 dated 29th October 2018 regarding Holidays – Public Holidays under Negotiable Instruments Act ,1881 for the State Government Offices and all Commercial Banks including Co-operative banks in Tamilnadu for the year 2019.

CCS: Entry pay for direct recruits appointed on or after 1.1.2006

Government of India, Ministry of Finance, Department of Expenditure issued Office Memorandum vide No. 8-23/2017 – E.IIIA 28th September, 2018 regarding Central Civil Services (Revised Pay) Rules, 2008 – Section II of the Part ‘A’ of the First Schedule thereto – entry pay for direct recruits appointed on or after 1.1.2006 and pay fixation in the case of persons other than such direct recruits and details as follows.

1.The undersigned is directed to invite the attention to the provisions contained in Section-2 of Part ‘A’ of the First Schedule of the Central Civil Services (Revised Pay) Rules, 2008 which provides for entry pay in the revised pay structure (pay structure effective from 1.1.2006 up to 31.12.2015) for direct recruits appointed on or after 1.1.2006 on a post and to say that pay in respect of persons appointed to the same posts before 1.1.2006 is required to be fixed as on 1.1.2006 under Rule 7 (1)(A)(i) and pay in respect persons appointed on the same post on promotion on or after 1.1.2006 is required to be fixed under Rule 13 thereof.

2. A number of references were received in Ministry of Finance, Department of Expenditure, stating that the pay of seniors of a post was fixed at a stage lower than the entry pay applicable to the persons appointed on direct recruitment basis on that post on or after 1.1.2006. In such cases, stepping of pay was allowed to the senior employee at par with the entry pay of direct recruits of those posts, subject to the conditions, inter-alia, that stepping up of pay of seniors is applicable only in those cases which have an element of direct recruitment and where a directly recruited junior is actually drawing more basic pay than the seniors. Thus, the stepping up of pay of senior employees was admissible from the date a junior direct recruit joined on or after 1.1.2006.

3. The matter was also considered in the meeting of the National Anomaly Committee (NAC) held on 17.7.2012 based on a demand raised by the Staff Side under the JCM. NAC had recommended that in cases where Recruitment Rules provide for direct recruitment, then the stepping up of pay of senior may be considered, even if no actual direct recruitment takes place or no direct recruit has actually joined. However, it was decided that stepping up of the pay of seniors can be claimed only in the case of those cadres which have an element of direct recruitment and in cases where a directly recruited junior is actually drawing more basic pay than the seniors. Thus, stepping up of pay was dependent upon actual joining of a direct recruit.

4. Trained Graduate Teachers (TGTs) of the Government of National Capital Territories of Delhi (GNCTD) filed an OA No. 3217/2014 before the Hon’ble Principal Bench of CAT. The 13 petitioners of the post of Trained Graduate Teachers (TGT) comprised those who were appointed as TGT before 1.1.2006 as also those who were promoted to the post of TGT on or after 1.1.2006. The pay of these 13 employees had been fixed as per the relevant provisions of the CCS(RP) Rules, 2008 and the same happened to be lower than the entry pay as applicable to direct recruits of the post of TGT appointed on or after 1.1.2006. These petitioners prayed for re-fixing their pay as applicable to direct recruits appointed on or after 1.1.2006.

5. The Hon’ble Principal Bench of CAT in their order dated 4.4.2016 in OA No.3217/2014 allowed the application and directed the Government to ensure that none of the applicant’s pay is fixed at a stage lower than the pay which could be drawn by a direct recruit appointed on or after 1.1.2006. The order of Hon’ble CAT dated 4.4.2016 was upheld by the Hon’ble Delhi High Court in terms of their order dated 23.3.2017 in WP(C ) No.2634/2017. The Hon’ble Delhi High Court in its order dated 23.3.2017 observed, inter-alia, that the plea of stepping up of pay, as mentioned in para 2 above, means that the direct recruits should have actually joined before any stepping up of pay can be granted and the date of joining would be different as filling up of direct recruit vacancies in the cadre would depend upon vacancy position, selection etc. The Hon’ble Delhi High Court held that this was unacceptable.

6. The matter arising out of the aforesaid order of Hon’ble Delhi High Court dated 23.3.2017 was heard by the Hon’ble Supreme Court as part of the SLP and in its order dated 01.09.2017 (Dy. No. 23663/2017), the Hon’ble Supreme Court has observed that once the question, in principle, has been settled, it is only appropriate on the part of the Government to issue a Circular. The Hon’ble Supreme Court further observed that the present situation is that the stepping up is available only to those who have approached the Court, but since the issue otherwise became final, the Hon’ble Supreme Court directed Government to immediately look into the matter and issue appropriate orders.

7. Accordingly, the matter has been considered in the light of the above background and in the context of the specific orders of Hon’ble Supreme Court dated 01.09.2017 as arising out of the original issue raised by the Trained Graduated Teachers of GNCTD in terms of their OA No. 3217/2014. As mentioned above, the petitioners in that case were those who were appointed as TGT before 1.1.2006 and also promoted as TGT on or after 1.1.2006, and had occasion for grievance because their pay in the pay structure in vogue from 1.1.2006 had been fixed lower than the entry pay as prescribed for direct recruits appointed as TGT on or after 1.1.2006. Therefore, the principle of the benefit of pay fixation, as flowing from the aforesaid orders of Hon’ble CAT, Hon’ble Delhi High Court and the Hon’ble Supreme Court, is that the pay of those who were appointed to the post prior to 1.1.2006 and those who were appointed to the post on promotion in the pay structure effective from 1.1.2006 onwards, and where in respect of such posts entry pay for direct recruits appointed on or after 1.1.2006 has been prescribed giving rise to differential pay, may not be lower than the said entry pay. It is the case of differential pay in respect of employees of a post, as caused by the existence of entry pay applicable for direct recruits on that post appointed on or after 1.1.2006, that has been addressed in the aforesaid case of the post of TGTs. In case entry pay as per Section II of Part A of the First Schedule of the CCS(RP) Rules, 2008 is not applicable in case of a post, the same will not give rise to differential pay for holders of the post and, hence, not covered under the ratio of the case of TGT.

8. Accordingly, the President is pleased to decide that in respect of those posts where entry pay for direct recruits appointed on or after 1.1.2006, as per Section II of Part A of the First Schedule of CCS(RP) Rules, 2008, becomes applicable by virtue of the provision of the element of direct recruitment in the relevant recruitment rules, the pay of Central government employees who were appointed to such posts prior to 1.1.2006 and whose pay, as fixed in the revised pay structure under Rule 7 thereof as on 1.1.2006 turns out to be lower than the prescribed entry pay for direct recruits of that post, shall not be less than such entry pay w.e.f. 1.1.2006. Likewise, the pay of Central Government employees who were appointed to such posts by way of promotion on or after 1.1.2006 and whose pay, as fixed under Rule 13 of CCS(RP) Rules, 2008, happens to be lower than the said entry pay, shall also not be less than such entry pay from the date of their promotion taking place on or after 1.1.2006.

9. In their application to the employees of office of Indian Audits and Accounts Department, these orders issue after consultation with the Comptroller and Auditor General of India.

2.Govt has eased out TA norms as per Para 1 (c) above wherein patients can travel by any mode including own vehs / Pvt transport and claim TA limited to entitled Expdr / actual whichever is less.

Admissibility

No DA is admissible for any move of ECHS member or their dependent/ Attendant for outstation treatment the following grounds:-

TA will only be admissible to ECHS beneficiaries on

(a) Travelling Allowance for onward and return journey undertaken for medical treatment is admissible to ECHS beneficiaries for treatment in another city, if such treatment is not available in the same city. Referral to outstation specialised centres will only be on the recommendations of an authorised service medical doctor or an ECHS medical doctor. The actual referral will have to be signed by the Officer In Charge (OIC) of the Polyclinic.

(b) Non availability of treatment in the city implies that there is no Service/Private empanelled hospital providing the required treatment in the town/city of Parent Polyclinic of ECHS beneficiary.

(c) In case desired treatment is not available in the station of parent PC, patient can choose any city within the RC where this treatment is available, TA will be, however, allowed only if it happens to be closest station from the parent PC city.

(d) Patient can choose any city (any emp hosp in the country) for treatment. While treatment is allowed but TA will be allowed if the selected facility is Not available in any city of RC.

Journey By Rail

Amount admissible will be limited to rail fare as per entitled class as applicable at the time of retirement by shortest/main route, or actual expenditure, whichever is less. Original ticket(s) is/ are to be attached in support of expenditure along with the claim.

Journey by Civil Air

Reimbursement of air travel in emergency case will be considered on merits of individual case by the Ministry in consultation with MoD (Fin) provided the Medical Officer of Polyclinic or the Specialist at Service Hospital certifies in writing that the air travel was absolutely essential and that travel by other means ie. by rail or road etc would have definitely endangered the life of the patient or involved the risk of serious aggravation of the condition of the patient.

Journey by Road

Road journey by public bus can be performed between places not connected by rail or otherwise, at the discretion of the patient in the entitled class as applicable at the time of retirement by shortest/main route. ECHS beneficiary can also travel by taxi! private car / ambulance / any mode of transport, however, the amount will be reimbursed based on certificate rendered by ECHS patient in support of the expenditure alongwith the claim. Amount admissible will be restricted to rail fare as per entitled class! Govt bus rates (when places not connected by rail) as applicable at the time of retirement by shortest / main route or actual expenditure whichever is less.

Journey by Sea or by River Steamer

The amount admissible will be limited to the steamer fare as per éntitled class, as applicable at the time of retirement to the nearest port, However, if the journey is performed by Air, the amount will be restricted to steamer fare as per entitled class as applicable at the time of retirement to the nearest port or actual expenditure whichever is less.

Conveyance for Attendants

Conveyance is admissible for one attendant when accompanying a patient, provided escorting is considered essential by the medical authorities. The Service Medical Doctor or the ECHS Medical Doctor attending to the patient should certify, in writing, that it is unsafe for the patient to travel alone and an attendant/escort is necessary to accompany the patient. Entitlement of attendant for travelling allowance will be the same as applicable to the patient.

Organ Donor

Reimbursement of Travelling Allowance to the Kidney Donor in connection with the journeys undertaken for donation of Kidney is admissible at the following rates:-

(a) If the Donor is a non-ECHS beneficiary. Will be admissible at the rates applicable to the recipient ECHS beneficiary.

(b) If the Donor is another ECHS beneficiary, Will be admissible at the rate applicable to the Donor.

Ambulance Charges

Ambulance service authorised in polyclinics/Military Hospital may be utilised for patients when being referred to Service/Empanelled Hospital in the same city. However, if Ambulance is not provided and Medical Authority (Medical Officer of Polyclinic or the Specialist at the Service Hospital) certifies in writing that conveyance of the patient by any other mode would definitely endanger the life of the patient or involve the risk of serious aggravation of his /her condition, expenditure incurred on engagement of Ambulance used to convey the patient will be reimbursed provided that the journey Is undertaken within the same city.

Station Commanders, who reimburse claim, must ensure the following:-

(a) Pay range for admitting travel class entitlement of patient will be the pay scale of ESM at the time of retirement.

(b) Road journey by public bus can be performed between places not connected by rail or otherwise, at the discretion of the patient in the entitled class as applicable at the time of retirement by shortest/main route. ECHS beneficiary can also travel by taxi! private car / ambulance / any mode of transport, however, the amount will be reimbursed based on certificate rendered by ECHS patient in support of the expenditure alongwith the claim. Amount admissible will be restricted to rail fare as per entitled class/ Govt bus rates (when places not connected by rail) as applicable al the time of retirement by shortest / main route of aclual expenditure whichever is less

(c) No TA is admissible in case referred in the same city.

(d) No DA will be admissible under any circumstances.

(e) No advance is admissible for the journey.

(f) Reimbursement of air fare not permissible except in cases of emergency, as specified at Paragraph No 5 and 7 above.

ECHS beneficiary is supposed to put the claim to Stn HO through Parent PC under which the said parent polyclinic has been placed. To ensure timely payment and avoid any misuse, the following norms will be followed :-

(vi) Original tickets of the patient, original tickets of the attendant (if applicable).

(vii) Certificate by outstation Service Hosp about treatment having been taken as referral ID is not generated in such cases.

(viii) Details of bank account number, IFSC code, name & address of bank is required for E-payment, hence a cancelled cheque is reqd to be attached.

(b) Mandatory Endorsement of Claim ID. TA is auth in case patient is given Out Stn referral. All OPFD / IPD referrals are followed by claim ID ( Hosp claims / IPD reimbursement claims). These will be prominently endorsed in red colour on Top Right Corner of the contingent bill. No bill will be passed without claim ID unless the patient has been treated in a Service Hosp for which a certificate will be attached.

(c) OIC PC will endorse on the contingent bill that the place to which TA is being allowed is the nearest city from parent PC and no emp facility exists in the city of Parent PC in accordance with GOI (MoD) letter No.22D(18)/2017/(WE/D (Res-I) dt 07 Aug 2018. Automation is being also atlempted wherein OIC PC will be able to confirm about TA entitlement at the time of giving City based referral.

(d) In case of patient having accompanying member, copy of such claims will also be forward to concerned Regional Centre for records.

14.Two sets of documents as per Para 12 above will be prepared and disposed as under Gill the time ‘Online billing’ process for TA commences:-

(a) One copy to be retained at PC.

(b) One copy to be sent to Stn HQ,

In case of claim of attendant, three sets of documents will be prepared wherein the third copy will be sent to concerned RC for monitoring.

Local Stn HOs will not put any requirement of additional docus to ensure uniformity in processing.

Procedure for availing AILTC in Board’s Office – for availing optional scheme of All India Leave Travel Concession (AILTC) facility for officers/staff working in Board’s Office

Ministry of Railways, Railway Board issued Office Order No. 104 of 2018 regarding Procedure for availing optional scheme of All India Leave Travel Concession (AILTC) facility for officers/staff working in Board’s Office and details as follows.

1.Subsequent to IR employees being given AILTC facility on optional basis in accordance with the CCS(LTC) Rules, 1988 as per Board’s Order No. E(W) 2017/PS5-1/3 dated 10.09.2018, all officers/staff working in Board’s office are also eligible to avail AILTC.

2.For availing the facility of AILTC, Officer/Staff working in Board’s Office should have

rendered four or more years of continuous service on the date of the commencement of the journey. The following guidelines may be adhered to by the applicant for availing AILTC:-

i) Privilege Pass Surrender Certificate (PPSC) may be obtained from ‘0 Branch by following the prescribed procedure as contained in Board’s letter dated 10.09.2018. However, in the first instance before applying for PPSC, the concerned staff should check his/her eligibility for availing AILTC.

ii) Leave of any type may be applied for and a declaration/advance intimation letter as per proforma enclosed at Annexure-I intending to avail AILTC may be submitted to the concerned Establishment Branch (ERB-I, ERB-1I & ERB-V) along with original copy of PPSC issued by ‘0’ Branch.

iii) In case, AILTC advance is required, a separate request may be submitted as per prescribed proforma enclosed at Annexure-II to the concerned ERB section ( ERB-I, II & V) in addition to submission of self-declaration/advance intimation letter. AILTC advance is to be applied 65 days ( in case of Air travel) or 125 days ( in case of train travel) before the proposed date of outward journey and within ten days of the drawal of advance, the concerned employee is to produce tickets, irrespective of the date of commencement of the journey.

iv) LTC advance upto 90% of the estimated fare would be sanctioned.

v) In case, an employee performs journey without intimation and submission of original PPSC to the concerned ERB section, claim for reimbursement under AILTC would not be entertained.

J & K Mediclaim insurance Policy for all State Government Employees including Employees of PSUs/Autonomous Bodies/ Universities, Pensioners, AIS Officers and their dependent family members

Government of Jammu and Kashmir, Finance Department issued circular vide 406 – FD of 2018 dated 20.09..2018 regarding Implementation of Mediclaim insurance Policy for all State Government Employees including Employees of PSUs/Autonomous Bodies/ Universities, Pensioners, AIS Officers and their dependent family members and details as follows.

With reference: State Administrative Council Decision No.54/10/2018 dated 31.08.2018 Sanction is hereby accorded to the implementation of the Group Mediclaim Insurance Policy for all State Government Employees including Employees of PSUs/Autonomous Bodies/ Universities, Pensioners, AIS Officers and their dependent family members on optional basis w.e.f 01.10.2018, for a period of one year and extendable annually for three years based on satisfactory performance of the Insurer.

2. The policy has been tied up with M/s Reliance General insurance Company Ltd on annual premium of Rs.8777/- and Rs.22,229/-(for employees and pensioners respectively). The said Policy will provide health insurance coverage upto Rs.6.00 lac per employee pensioner per annum along with his/her five dependent family members on floater basis.

3. The policy is mandatory for all the State Government employees (Gazetted as well as Non-Gazetted), State Universities, Commissions, Autonomous Bodies and PSUs.

4. The Policy is optional for pensioners, AIS Officers, Adhoc, Contractual, DRWs, Work Charged/Contingent Paid Workers and their dependant family members.

5.Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board, Shri Mata Vaishno Devi University, Shri Amarnathji Shrine Board and the Accredited Journalists of the State through Information Department have also expressed their willingness to join the scheme. They may do so provided the premium is collected in four quarterly installments in advance and paid to the lnsurance Agency on due dates by the Agency concerned themselves.

6. Medical Allowance in favour of all enrolled employees shall be discontinued, drawn and credited to the M.H.8235 during the currency of the policy on monthly basis.

Availability of option for fixation of pay on promotion from the Date of Next Increment (DNI) in the lower post

Government of India (Bharat Sarkar), Ministry of Railway (Rail Mantralaya),(Railway Board) issued circular vide PC-VII NO.119 ,File No. PC-VII/2016/I/6/2, RBE No.142/2018 dated 20-09-2018 regarding Availability of option for fixation of pay on promotion from the Date of Next Increment (DNI) in the lower post and method of fixation of pay from DNI, if opted for, in context of Rs(RP) Rules,2016 and details as follows.

1.Please refer to Board’s letter of even no. dated 31.07.2017 forwarding therewith a copy of Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and pensions, Department of Personnel & Training’s (MoPPG&P/DoP&T) OM No.13/02/2017-Estt.(Pay)I dated 27.07.2017 regarding guidelines on availability of option for fixation of pay on promotion from the Date of Next Increment (DNI) in the lower post and method of fixation of pay from DNI, if opted for, in context of CCS(RP) Rules,2016 for adoption of the same in Railways with respect to RS(RP) Rules,2016.

2. Now Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions, Department of personnel & Training vide their OM No.13/02/2017-Estt.(Pay-I) dated 28.08.2018 has clarified various aspects of their earlier OM. The clarifications issued by DoP&T shall be applicable mutatis mutandis in Railways with respect to RS(RP) Rules,2016.

3. The ‘one month’ period mentioned in the aforesaid OM of DoP&T dated 28.08.2018 under clarification to point of doubt as Sl.No.2 shall be one month from the date of issue of these instructions.

The undersigned is directed to refer to this Department’s O.M. No. 31011/3/2014- Estt.A-IV dated 19.09.2016 on the subject noted above and to say that in relaxation to CCS (LTC) Rules, 1988, the scheme allowing Government servants to travel by air to North East Region (NER), Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) and Andaman & Nicobar Islands (A&N) is extended for a further period of two years, w.e.f. 26th September, 2018 till 25th September, 2020 as under:

(i) LTC for visiting NER, J&K and A&N in lieu of a Home Town LTC.

(ii) Facility of air journey to non-entitled Government servants for visiting NER, J&K and A&N.

(iii) Permission to undertake journey to J&K, NER and A&N by private airlines.

2. The above special dispensation is subject to the following terms & conditions:

(i) All eligible Government servants may avail LTC to visit any place in NER/ A&N/ J&K against the conversion of their one Home Town LTC in a four year block.

(ii) Government servants, whose Home Town and Headquarters/place of posting is the same, are not allowed the conversion.

(iii) Fresh Recruits are allowed conversion of one of the three Home Town LTCs in a block of four years, applicable to them.

(iv) Government servants entitled to travel by air may avail this concession from their Headquarters in their entitled class of air by any airlines subject to the maximum fare limit of LTC-80.

(v) Government servants not entitled to travel by air are allowed to travel by air in Economy class by any airlines subject to the maximum fare limit of LTC-80 in the following sectors:

(a) Between Kolkata/Guwahati and any place in NER.

(b) Between Kolkata/Chennai/Visakhapatnam and Port Blair.

(c) Between Delhi/Amritsar and any place in J&K.

Journey for these non-entitled employees from their Headquarters up to Kolkata/ Guwahati/ Chennai/ Visakhapatnam/ Delhi/ Amritsar shall be undertaken as per their entitlement.

(vi) Air travel by Government employees to NER, J&K and A&N as mentioned in para (iv) and (v) above is allowed whether they avail the concession against Anywhere in India LTC or in lieu of the Home Town LTC as permitted.

(vii) Air Tickets are to be purchased directly from the airlines (Booking counters, website of airlines) or by utilizing the service of Authorized Travel Agents viz. ‘M/s Balmer Lawrie & Company’, ‘M/s Ashok Travels & Tours’ and ‘IRCTC’ [to the extent IRCTC is authorized as per DoPT’s O.M. No. 31011/6/2002- Estt.(A) dated 12.2009] while undertaking LTC journey. Booking of tickets through other agencies is not permitted and no request for relaxation of rules for booking the tickets through such agencies shall be considered by this Department.

3. Efforts should be made by the Government servants to book air tickets at the cheapest fare possible. All the Ministries/ Departments are advised to bring it to the notice of all their employees that any misuse of LTC will be viewed seriously and the employees will be liable for appropriate action under the rules. In order to keep a check on any kind of misuse of LTC, Ministries/ Departments are advised to randomly get some of the air tickets submitted by the officials verified from the airlines concerned with regard to the actual cost of air travel vis-a-vis the cost indicated on the air tickets submitted by the officials.

4. In so far as the employees of Indian Audit and Accounts Department are concerned, this order issues after consultation with Comptroller & Auditor General of India.

(Pass) Rules, 1986 (Second Edition-1993), the Competent Authority in the Ministry of Railways has accorded approval to exclude such railway servants and other eligible persons (i.e. eligible for PP) from the facility of Privilege Passes in that particular calendar year in which they opt for AILTC facility. Applicants may avail AILTC facility subject to conditions stipulated in para 2 of the referred OM dated 27.03.2018 (copy enclosed as Annexure-I). This facility is further subject to procedural guidelines/conditions stipulated hereunder.

These orders shall be applicable to (i) Railway Servants entitled to PPs; (ii) Other

government department’s officials serving in railways on deputation and entitled to PPs;

Other officials serving in railways and entitled to PPs; and (iv) Officials of Audit Department (Railway) entitled to PPs. The Competent Authorities concerned shall modify terms and condition of such officials as required and necessary. These orders would not be applicable to those who are undergoing minor penalty of stoppage of even a single PP at the time of application for availing AILTC.

Those officials, who opt for AILTC facility, would be issued a “Privilege Pass

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